NFL Hot Press: Giants Could Target Corner at No. 7

*Walt taking 2014 and 2018

Charlie Campbell, Senior Draft Analyst Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell for updates. Led all NFL media in draft rumor accuracy in '15, '16, '17, '18, and '20 Led all NFL media in correct picks for the 2017 and 2019 NFL Drafts 2021 NFL MOCK DRAFT - WALT'S | CHARLIE'S ROUND: 1

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Giants Could Target Corner at No. 7

Updated March 30, 2022
By Charlie Campbell. Follow Charlie on Twitter @draftcampbell.

For a lot of the leadup to the 2022 NFL Draft, the New York Giants have been projected to address their offensive line and defensive line with their picks at No. 5 and No. 7 overall. The offensive line has been a major weakness for the Giants for years, and they are in good position to land one of the top offensive tackles. With their pick at No. 7, many in the media have projected the Giants to select an edge rusher to go on the other side from Azeez Ojulari, but in speaking with team sources, cornerback is a position that is highly in play as well.

With the seventh pick, the Giants could land one of the top cornerbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft, like LSU’s Derek Stingley or Cincinnati’s Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner. It sounds like the Giants have those two far ahead of Washington’s Trent McDuffie. There has been a lot of speculation that new general manager Joe Schoen is looking to trade veteran James Bradberry. The previous regime gave big contracts to Bradberry and veteran Adoree’ Jackson while also blowing a first-round pick on DeAndre Baker. By trading away Bradberry and taking Stingley or Gardner to be their No. 1 corner, the Giants would get younger and cheaper with the huge asset of a No. 1 corner on a cheap 5-year contract.

At the fifth pick, it sounds like the Giants are focused on Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal and N.C. State offensive tackle Ikem Ekwonu. Neal might be the preferred player at this time, but that could change during the April draft meetings and when the coaches’ evaluations are taken into account.

Like almost all teams in the NFL, the Giants are interested in the idea of trading down as well. Even in the final weeks before a draft, a lot can change with teams. It currently sounds like the Giants could seek to improve their offensive line with a blocker like Neal or Ekwonu and then add a cornerback upgrade in Stingley or Gardner.